Bhubaneswar, March 4: Baripada circle jail has the highest number of women inmates in the state, according to a study conducted by the State Resource Center for Women (SRCW).
The number of women prisoners lodged in Baripada jail is 34, in Ganjam 43 and 24 in Chowdwar, revealed Amrita Patel, SRCW project director, while making a power point presentation in front of woman activists at a hotel at Kalpana here Wednesday.
She said, “There is lot more to be done in areas such as providing legal aid to women prisoners, their post release plan and opportunities, skill building plan for women inmates and children born in jails.”
The study also revealed most women prisoners were charged under Arms Act. The SRCW interviewed as many as 269 women inmates to find out the problem they were facing in confinement.
Prisons inspector general (IG) Pradeep Kapoor, who were among the guests, said, “Possession of arms is a serious offence. So while talking about prisoners booked under a particular Act, we should be careful.” Kapoor also expressed concern over the findings and said he would make an effort to include the SRCW recommendations.
Women and child development minister Usha Devi, commissioner-cum-secretary school and mass education Usha Padhee, Orissa State Commission for Women chairperson Lopamudra Baxipatra and Saswat Mishra, commissioner-cum-secretary of women and child development were among those who participated in the discussion.